Kochi: Progress in long jump geometry is rarely linear. For Shahnawaz Khan, the momentum has turned sharply upwards. Nowhere was that more evident than at the U-20 Federation Cup in Tumkur, Karnataka, 11 days ago, where the 18-year-old soared to 8.23m for an eclipse. Murali SrishankarA junior national record of 8.20 meters was recorded in 2018. “Sri Shankar Bhaiya congratulated me after jumping in Tumkur. He is my senior, whom I respect,” Shahnawaz told TOI.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!For Shahnawaz, the rise in Tumkur did not begin. The signs were evident in Bhubaneswar last year, where the Uttar Pradesh native broke the 8m barrier for the first time, landing 8.04m on the Continental Tour. Bhubaneswar has since assumed considerable importance for the youth of Pratapgarh.
“This is my lucky spot where I recorded two of my personal best scores. It was here that I crossed 8 meters for the first time. Now, I want to go back to Bhubaneswar and break Tamkur’s mark in Interstate,” he explains.The route from Tumkur passes through an attractive calendar. The inter-state championships in Bhubaneswar in June double up as the final selection trials for the Asian Games in Japan this September.If he qualifies, the Junior World Championships in Eugene, USA, will take place in August, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the distant but definite horizon. “My immediate target is to qualify for the Asian Games and come back with a medal around my neck,” says Shahnawaz.Coach is behind his rise. Bhupinder Singhwhose approach marries scientific flair and patience and refuses to box players into templates.Their partnership began in 2024, when Shahnawaz arrived raw and desperate. Since then the transformation is physical and psychological. “Today, he is taller and more aware of his body,” notes Singh. “The biggest change is in his mind.”This mental clarity is being forged at the SAI Center of Excellence in Thiruvananthapuram, where training sessions are created with near-surgical intent. Improving sprint mechanics, speeding up take-off drills, and building explosive power through heavy lifts and endurance work. Singh believes his ward can now operate consistently in the 8.20m range, with 8.50m as the next frontier.What no training matrix fully captures, though, is what Singh calls Junon. There is a story about a session in Thiruvananthapuram earlier this year that Singh still talks about.Shahnawaz had already completed his scheduled run-through for the day, but the youngster pushed himself for one last burst of energy as the final jump didn’t feel right. It’s the speed that comes through most clearly in high-octane competitions.On Shahnawaz’s record in Tumkur, Singh offered: “Records are always meant to be broken.” And if the 18-year-old’s arc catches on, he intends to prove it. “We are working towards LA 2028,” added Singh. “That is the long-term goal.”For Shahnawaz, the horizon is getting closer: from a sand pit in Bhubaneswar to a medal to win in Japan. The geometry is turning upwards.
